As I mentioned with regards to your lava eggs recipe, we also did this recipe with success. Thank you! For Singapore readers, you could get the ingredients easily from Isetan Scotts' supermarket. I bought the Takara brand of Mirin and Cooking Sake for under S$5 each for the smallest bottle. I also got the Shimaya brand of MSG and additive free Dashi powder sachet. The dried soba we got has a stronger flavour. I would try with a different noodle next time. Perhaps dried ramen if I could find it.